Counter-current contactor



April 1961 D- M. CUNNINGHAM 2,981,608

COUNTER-CURRENT CONTACTOR Filed May 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

DENNIS M. CUNNINGHAM ATTORNEYS April 1961 D. M. CUNNINGHAM 2,981,608

COUNTER-CURRENT CONTACTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1958 INVENTOR.DENMS CUNNWGHAM ATTORNEYS scale in section taken on the lines IIII andIII-III United States Patent COUNTER-CURRENT CONTACTOR Dennis M.Cunningham, Louisville, Ky., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporationof Wisconsin Filed May 7, 1958, Ser. No. 733,748

6 Claims. c1. 23-270 and apparatus for producing a completely saturated,liquor from solid and liquid components.

' .Another object is to facilitate further treatment of residues.

Another object is to facilitate the final removal of residues andimpurities. I

,A further object is to provide means for receiving components andconveying them into and through each other and discharging resultingproducts all within closely circumscribed space.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent upon perusal-of thefollowing specification as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, inwhich: a

Fig. I is a side elevational view, partly schematic an with someportions omitted, of a preferred form of apparatus embodying thisinvention;

Figs. H and III are fragmentary details on a large of Fig. I;

Fig- IV is a side elevational somewhat schematic ,view of a modifiedform of the apparatus;

Fig. V is a somewhat schematic plan view of another modification; and

Fig. V1 is a side elevational somewhat schematic view of still anothermodification.

In apparatus of the formillustrated in Figs. I, II and III, a series ofcurved channel segments 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are arranged around ahollow column or support tube 21, each of the channel segments 10, 11,12, 13 and 14 being fixed to the hollow column 21. Projecting from theupper end of the column 21 is a spindle. 22

, which is journaled in a bearing 23 that is yieldably held in place byflexible struts 24 by which the'bearing is connected to stationaryframework 25.

such that the platform 26 is guided over a limited range of helicalmovement relative to the stationary base 27. The platform 26 and theparts of the apparatus carried 1 by the said platform are vibrated bymeans of a motor same time through the same channel in the oppositedirection. ,.It is an object of the invention to provide a methodPatented Apr. 25, 1961 of the shaft 34 acts through the connecting rod36 and lever 37 to transmit vibratory motion to the platform 26 and thismotion is guided by the inclined links 29 into a helical vibratorypattern. The plunger and cylinder 39 allow the platform 26, the column21, the channels 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 and other parts supported therebyto settle with increase of load in the channels. The connecting rod 36transmits helical vibration whether or not the platform, column andchannels have settled under load. While only one connecting rod 36 andlever 37 are illustrated, two are customarily employed, one one eachside of the platform 26, both connecting rods being driven from the sameshaft 34. V

While only five channel segments are shown in Fig. I the apparatus mayhave various numbers of channel segments ranging from one upwardly. Eachchannel segment may be regarded as one flight of a helix one end of theflight being somewhat above the other end so that liquid fed to a pointin a channel segment anywhere between the ends thereof flows to thelower end of the channel segment whether or not the channel segment isvibrating. From the lower end of that channel segment the liquid runsthrough a screened outlet 40 and a discharge pipe 41 to a pointintermediate the ends of a succeeding channel segment. Thus, the flow ofliquid is repeated in channel section after channel section.

In the meanwhile solid material is being fed into the end of theuppermost channel segment in which the screened liquid outlet 40 islocated. The spiral vibratory movement of thechannel segments as well asthe column 21 and the platform 26 causes the solid material to moveuphill in small jumps until it reaches a discharge conduit 42 whichconducts it into the lower end of the succeeding channel segment inwhich it is conveyed up stream through the liquid running downstream.

While the liquid components and the solid components are moving inopposite directions through the channels they are being agitatedtogether. The rates at which the liquid components and the rates atwhich the solid components are fed into the channels are adjusted tokeep the oppositely flowing streams of liquids and solids .of such depthand at such relative rates of flow as to accomplish the desired degreeof saturation of the liquids and the desired rate of attenuation of thesolids.

The solid components should be particulate but need neither be finelycomminuted nor in granules of uniform size. The best results areobtained with solids that are comminuted into bits which are coarseenough to permit the liquid to flow through them rather freely.

In installations where'the liquid becomes sufficiently saturated uponpassage through an early flight orfiights it may be drawn off at anearly outlet 40, and fresh liquid supplied to treat the partially spentsolids'as they are conveyed through the subsequent flight or flights.Further saturation of liquid which has been passed through and agitated,with partially spent solids may be accomplished by processing it withfresh solids. Such liquid product as clings to spent solids can, in mostcases, be recovered by supplying water to the last flight for agitationwhile it is flowing through the solids to rinse on the liquid product.

,31 that is connected through a belt 32 to a pulley 33 While thechannels and channel segments of the various forms disclosed herein aredescribed as sloping fed into a channel or channel segment at one willflow to an outlet at the other end even if the channel or segment islevel; therefore it is not always essential that'the channel or segmentbe sloping, especially if it is short.

In the form of device illustrated in Fig- IV, a series of straightchannel segments 51, 52 and 53 are employed. The form of device shown inFig. IV thus has adaptability similar to that of the form shown in Fig.I but it is less compact than the form shown in Fig. I. All of thestraight channel segments 51, 52 and 53 and such other channel segmentsas may be assembled therewith can be rigidly connected to each other bymounting them upon the same frame, which'can be'vibrated by a singlemotor, or they can be vibrated by individual motors 54, 55 and 56 in themanner indicated in Fig; IV. Employment of individual motors increasesthe adaptability of the installation; With the straightvibrato'rychannel segments 51, 52 and 53 arranged in echelon as they arein the form of device shown in Fig. IV, it is necessary to elevate theliquid from segment to segment by means of pumps 57 and 58.. The solidmaterial, though it moves uphill as it passes through each channel, canflow by gravity from channel to channel so. that no channel to channelelevators are needed.

In the form. of device shown in Fig. V channels 61, 62, 63 and 64 andtheir mountings and vibration imparting mechanisms are similar to thoseshown in Fig. IV but the directions in which the components are conveyedchange through 90 as they move from each channel to the succeedingchannel. Hence, they enter the apparatus and are discharged therefrom atnearly the same place. The solid components pass slightly uphillthrough-the channel 61 and discharge into the channel 62 which extendsalong a vertical plane at right angles to the vertical plane along whichthe channel 61 extends; they then are conveyed slightly uphill throughthe channel 62 and discharged into the lower end of the channel 63 whichextends along a vertical .planeat right angles to the vertical planealong'which the channel 62. extends; then they are discharged into thelower end of channel 64, through which they are conveyed uphill, andfrom which they are discharged close to Where they entered theapparatus.

The liquid component is fed from a conduit 65 into the channel 64 fromwhence it flows through a screened outlet 66 to a pump 67 which. pumpsit through a pipe 68 to the higher end of the, channel 63. Likewise, thepartially saturated. liquid is transferred from the lower end of thechannel 63 through anoutlet 69, a pump 76 and a pipe 71 to the higherend of the channel 62, and through an outlet 72, a pump 73 and a pipe 74from the lower end of the channel 62 to the higher end of the channel61. Finally the saturated liquid is delivered from a screened outlet 75in the lower end of the channel 61.

The form of apparatus illustrated in Fig. VI comprises a single straightchannel 80 of considerable length. The cannnel 80 is supported from astationary base 81 by means of coil springs 82 and links 83 to bevibrated by power from a motor 84, the power being applied throughpulleys 85 and 86 and a shaft 87 having a crank or eccentric upon whichis journaled one end of a connecting link 88, the other end of theconnecting link 83 being pivoted to the channel 80. The channel slopesat an angle appropriate for the materials to be processed and theconditions under which the apparatus is to be operated, e.g., at anangle ofabout 1 to the horizontal, and has a discharge opening forbroken solid material at its higher end toward which such solid materialis conveyed in small jumps when the channel is. vibrated. The channel 80also has a screened outlet 89 for liquid material at its lower end.

In the operation of this form of apparatus granular or broken solidmaterial is fed into the vibratory channel 80 at its lower end whileliquid material capable of dissolving or reacting with the so idmaterial or parts thereof is fed into the upper end of the channel, sothat the liquid and solid materials are agitated with each other as theymove in opposite directions through each other, the spent or partiallyspent solids being discharged from the higher end of the channel whilethe liquid composition is drawn from the outlet 89 at the lower end ofthe channel.

The invention can be employed in other arrangements than those shown inFigs. 1, IV, V and VI.

It is 'to be understood that the forms hereinabove described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings are exemplary only and thatthey are subject to variation within the spirit and scope ofthesubjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids with each othercomprising, in combination, a series of superposed helical channels,each channel having a screened outlet for liquids at one end thereof andhaving a discharge opening for particulate solids at the other endthereof positioned to discharge into the next lower helical channel,each of said channels sloping downwardly somewhat toward said screenedoutlet, a support for said channels, means for sinusoidally vibratingthe channels. along a helical path that is steeper than the channels toconvey solids upwardly along the channels, a conduit leading from saidscreened outlet of. each of said channels, the conduits from each ofsaid outlets except that of the lowest channel of said series emptyinginto a succeeding lower channel, whereby, when liquids are fed into thefirst channel of the series at a point remote from its screened outletand when particulate solids are fed into the same channel at a pointadjacent its screened outlet and when the said channel so fed isvibrated, such particulate solids will be conveyed along said channel inone direction and such liquids will flow along the same channel at thesame timebut in the opposite direction, such solids and liquids movingin opposite directions among each other and being agitated with eachother, and whereby resulting solids and liquids movethrough each otherin opposite directions along each channel of said series to separatepoints of discharge from each channel.

2. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate. solids with eachother comprising, in combination, a frame, means for supporting saidframe for sinusoidal vibration along a helical path, power operatedmeans for causing such vibratory movement, a series of superposedhelical channels on said frame, said frame and said series of channelsbeing rigidly secured together, whereby said series of channels vibrateswith said frame, each channel having a screened outlet for liquids atone end thereof and havinga discharge opening for particulate solids atthe other end thereof in position to discharge into the lower end of.the next lower channel, a conduit leading from said screened outlet ofeach of said channels, the conduits from each of said outletsexcept thatof the last channel of said series emptying into a succeeding channel,whereby, when liquids are fed into the first channel of the series at apoint remote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids arefed into the same channel at a point adjacent its screened outlet andwhen the said channel so fed is vibrated along said helical path, suchparticulate solids will be conveyed along said channel in one directionand such liquids will flow alongthe same channel at .the same time butin the opposite direction, such solids and liquids moving in oppositedirections among each .other and being agitated with each other, .andwhereby resulting solids and liquids move through each other in oppositedirections along each channel of the series to separate points ofdischarge from each channel. a v

3. Apparatus for. treating liquids and particulate solids with eachother comprising, in combination, a base, a frame, means for supportingsaid frame from said base forhelical vibratory movement of saidframe'relative to said base, power operated means for causing suchhelical vibratory movement, at least one helical channel mounted on saidframe and rigidly secured thereto, whereby said channel vibrates withsaid frame, said channel having a screened outlet forliquids at itslower end and having a discharge opening for particulate solids at itsupper end, whereby, when liquids are fed into the channel at a pointremote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids are fed intothe same channel at a point adjacent its screened outlet and when thesaid channel so fed is vibrated, such particulate solids will beconveyed along said channel in one direction and such liquids will flowalong the same channel at the same time but in the opposite direction,such solids and liquids moving in opposite directions among each otherand being agitated with each other, and whereby resulting solids andliquids move through each other in opposite directions along eachchannel of the series to separate points of discharge from each channel.

4. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids with each othercomprising, in combination, a base, a frame, means for supporting andguiding said frame from said base for vibratory movement of said framesuch that peripheral portions of the frame move along short sections ofspiral paths curved about a vertical axis, power operated means forcausing such vibratory movement, said frame including a columnar memberhaving a vertical axis, a vertical series of segmental helical channelscarried by said columnar member, each of said segmental channels beingcurved helically about such vertical axis, said frame and said series ofsegmental channels being rigidly secured together, whereby said seriesof segmental channels vibrates with said frame, each channel having ascreened outlet for liquids at its lower end and having a dischargeopening for particulate solids at its other end, a conduit leading fromsaid screened outlet of each of said segmental channels, the conduitsfrom each of said outlets except that of the last segmental channel ofsaid series emptying into a succeeding segmental channel, whereby, whenliquids are fed into the first segmental channel of the series at apoint remote from its screened outlet and when particulate solids arefed into the same segmental channel at a point adjacent its screenoutlet and when the said segmental channel so fed is vibrated, suchparticulate solids will be conveyed along said segmental channel in onedirection and such liquids will flow along the same segmental channel atthe same time but in the opposite direction, such solids and liquidsmoving in opposite directions among each other and being agitated witheach other, and whereby resulting solids and liquids move through eachother in opposite directions along each segmental channel to separatepoints of discharge from each segmental channel.

5. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids with each othercomprising, in combination, a base, a frame, means so supporting saidframe from said base as to permit vibratory movement of said framerelative to said base to move peripheral portions of the frame alongshort sections of helical paths curved about a vertical axis, poweroperated means for causing such vibratory movement, means forautomatically adjusting connections between said power operated meansand said frame to compensate for changes in load upon said frame, saidframe including a columnar member having a vertical axis, a verticalseries of segmental channels carried by said columnar member, each ofsaid segmental channels being curved helically about such vertical axis,said frame and said series of segmental channels being rigidly securedtogether, whereby said series of segmental channels vibrates with saidframe, each channel having a screened outlet for liquids at its lowerend and having a discharge opening for particulate solids at its otherend, each of said segmental channels sloping downwardly somewhat towardsaid screened outlet, a conduit leading from said screened outlet ofeach of said segmental channels, the conduits from each of said outletsexcept that of the last segmental channel of said series emptying into asucceeding segmental channel, whereby, when liquids are fed into thefirst segmental channel of the series at a point remote from itsscreened outlet and when particulate solids are fed into the samesegmental channel at a point adjacent its screened outlet and when thesaid segmental channel so fed is vibrated, such particulate solids willbe conveyed along said segmental channel in one direction and suchliquids will flow along the same segmental channel at the same time butin the opposite direction, such solids and liquids moving in oppositedirections among each other and being agitated with each other, andwhereby resulting solids and liquids move through each other in oppositedirections along the same segmental channel to separate points ofdischarge into a succeeding segmental channel and to separate points ofdischarge from the final channel of the series.

6. Apparatus for treating liquids and particulate solids witheach othercomprising, in combination, a frame, a series of superposed helicalchannels mounted on said frame about a common vertical axis, each ofsaid channels having its higher end in discharging relation to the lowerend of the next lower channel, means for vibrat ing the channels along ahelical path about a vertical axis that extends in the same directionand is steeper than said helical channels to convey solid materialupwardly along such channels, a conduit for liquids connecting the lowerend of one channel to the upper end of the next lower channel, and meansfor feeding particulate solid material and liquid into the upperchannel, said particulate solids and liquid traversing said series ofchannels in the same order but in counterflow relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS435.530 Talley Sept. 2, 1890 750,281 Hicks Jan. 26, 1904 2,735,795 Weisset al. Feb. 21, 1956 2,782,104 Glinka Feb. 19, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,981,608 April 25, 1961Dennis M. Cunningham It is hereby certified that error appears in theabove numbered patent requiring correction and that the said LettersPatent should read as corrected below.

Column 3-, line 1, after "one" insert end Signed and sealed this 19thday of December 1961,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of PatentsUSCOMM-DC

1. APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS AND PARTICULATE SOLIDS WITH EACH OTHERCOMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SERIES OF SUPERPOSED HELICAL CHANNELS,EACH CHANNEL HAVING A SCREENED OUTLET FOR LIQUIDS AT ONE END THEREOF ANDHAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING FOR PARTICULATE SOLIDS AT THE OTHER ENDTHEREOF POSITIONED TO DISCHARGE INTO THE NEXT LOWER HELICAL CHANNEL,EACH OF SAID CHANNELS SLOPING DOWNWARDLY SOMEWHAT TOWARD SAID SCREENEDOUTLET, A SUPPORT FOR SAID CHANNELS, MEANS FOR SINUSOIDALLY VIBRATINGTHE CHANNELS ALONG A HELICAL PATH THAT IS STEEPER THAN THE CHANNELS TOCONVEY SOLIDS UPWARDLY ALONG THE CHANNELS, A CONDUIT LEADING FROM SAIDSCREENED OUTLET OF EACH OF SAID CHANNELS, THE CONDUITS FROM EACH OF SAIDOUTLETS EXCEPT THAT OF THE LOWEST CHANNEL OF SAID SERIES EMPTYING INTO ASUCCEEDING LOWER CHANNEL, WHEREBY, WHEN LIQUIDS ARE FED INTO THE FIRSTCHANNEL OF THE SERIES AT A POINT REMOTE FROM ITS SCREENED OUTLET ANDWHEN PARTICULATE SOLIDS ARE FED INTO THE SAME CHANNEL AT A POINTADJACENT ITS SCREENED OUTLET AND WHEN THE SAID CHANNEL SO FED ISVIBRATED, SUCH PARTICULATE SOLIDS WILL BE CONVEYED ALONG SAID CHANNEL INONE DIRECTION AND SUCH LIQUIDS WILL FLOW ALONG THE SAME CHANNEL AT THESAME TIME BUT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SUCH SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS MOVINGIN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AMONG EACH OTHER AND BEING AGITATED WITH EACHOTHER, AND WHEREBY RESULTING SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS MOVE THROUGH EACH OTHERIN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ALONG EACH CHANNEL OF SAID SERIES TO SEPARATEPOINTS OF DISCHARGE FROM EACH CHANNEL.